Christmas Lights

by Yolanda Sfetsos

  "I was wondering when you'd come back,” the man said.

  Noel could see him now. He stood behind the counter—a short, very thin man with a large puffy beard and wiry white hair. He wore a long sleeve red sweater and green pants. Noel couldn't see the pants this time, but remembered them when the old man had walked around the counter to show him where the lights he was looking for were.

  That's funny, until now I hadn't even remembered that detail. Noel had never come into this store with the intention to buy lights for his tree. Hadn't even gotten the tree until after the lights, but had suddenly felt an overwhelming urge to get into the festive spirit.

  He cleared his throat and asked, “And why would you wonder that?"

  The old man chuckled. “Ah, I knew it was only a matter of time before you encountered some magic."

  Noel met the man's clear blue eyes from across the counter, and couldn't help but feel like a little kid again. When he'd been a child, every single time Christmas rolled around, his innocent heart would tell him it would be different this time around. Happiness and miracles were just around the corner ... but they never came. And by the time he was a teenager, he expected the worst to happen every year. It was always easier that way. Easier to take the pain he knew would come sooner or later.

  "What makes you think I've encountered any magic?"

  The man chuckled again. Even though his whole body seemed to vibrate with activity, the glasses perched on the end of his long nose held steady. “Ah, I don't want to play any games with you today, Noel Harris. It's Christmas Eve and I've got a very busy one ahead of me this year. So why don't you stop asking stupid questions, and get the correct ones out? I know why you're here. I helped set all this up. So let's get you educated on what you need to do to make it to Boxing Day."

  Noel crossed his arms in a defensive move. Damn, this old guy was good! “Why did you pick me?"

  He shrugged his narrow shoulders. “Ah ... because you looked like you needed an adventure."

  "Really ... that's it?” Noel couldn't help but feel a little disappointed. He'd expected an explanation that went a little deeper than this one. The word special wouldn't go astray either. He'd never felt special before.

  "What were you hoping to hear? That I chose you out of a thousand brave souls with pure hearts and noble intentions? If you'd prefer me to say that, I will. But I'm not here to stroke your ego.” He narrowed his eyes, and looked at him down the length of his crooked nose. “I'm serious when I say I'm not here to play games, Noel. So if you're using this opportunity as a way to feel special and important, use it in some other more practical way."

  "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to—"

  "It doesn't matter what you meant to say. I've waited a long time for this, and I need to ensure you and the pretty lady will be able to defeat that disgusting demon once and for all!” The lines on his face were suddenly so etched along his face that it looked like carved stone instead of flesh and blood. Even the tinge of his skin grayed a little.

  "I need to know why she was trapped inside those lights."

  The old man held his stare for several more beats before he shrugged. “That wasn't my doing. Decarabia managed that all on his own, entrapping him with those poor innocent imps was not what I intended to do. I just knew that if I blasted him into the wastelands, he would take every one of those souls with him. I couldn't let him do more harm to them than he'd already done. They used to be such free creatures, you know? If you needed their help, all you had to do was ask. I've had quite a few imps help me in my time. But demons don't work that way. They don't ask, just take."

  "I thought elves were the ones that helped you.” Surprisingly, Noel didn't feel like an idiot when he stated that fact.

  The man narrowed his eyes a little more. “Elves, imps, dwarves ... there are many kinds that like to help on this wonderful day of the year. So you know who I am then, Noel Harris?"

  "Yes, you're Santa Claus."

  * * * *

  The thumps were insistent now that she was trying to relax in the heat of the water in the tub. Natala had never seen such a spacious, fancy-looking bathtub. Or the things on the rim that could be poured into the water to help relax her weary body and set off wonderful scents.

  Luckily, she knew how to read English. It was the basic language of the imps. More demons were adopting it too. It made it easier for them to integrate into human society if they were fluent in it.

  Another thump filled the corridor outside the door she'd kept open.

  "Shut up!” she called for the hundredth time.

  The demon tried to answer, to use her mind as a vehicle to convey what he wanted to say to her, but she'd successfully blocked him out. Amongst his legions of hell, it was virtually impossible to keep him out, but here she could easily block him if she wanted to.

  It wasn't as if he offered anything new to the situation anyway. Just more complaints peppered with threats that she'd heard, and even received, several times. Carabia was quite liberal with his whip.

  Natala had no idea how long she'd been in the water but did notice the light streaming in through the window was fading fast. The water was cooling too. As comfortable and replenished as she felt, she knew it was time to get out. She was clean enough now. Ready for whatever came first—battle or food.

  Yes, she could do with some more of that food Noel had laid out for her in the other room. What was keeping him so long? On one hand she was glad she had the privacy to bathe on her own, be free and naked without interruptions. But on the other hand, she'd hoped he would walk in while she was still in here with only bubbles to hide her nakedness. That was the bold side she'd never dared to connect to.

  Sex was something most took for granted in the Underworld. It was usually a means to pass the time, or a way to take someone else's power. She was actually surprised that Carabia had never forced her into a sexual situation, but was grateful. He knew how much magic she possessed within her, and that she was one of the few pure imps left. Well, she was the only one under his possession ... which made her wonder if maybe he'd always intended for them to be the only two released from the light globes someday.

  The thought made her skin crawl some more.

  "You're my special little imp," he would always say to her with a leer. One clawed hand would run up and down her bare arm as if that was enough for him to get a taste of what she had to offer.

  She'd never let him touch her, would rather face death than be touched by that monster. The only person she wanted to be touched by now was Noel. As she ran a hand up and down her thigh, Natala wondered what it would feel like to have his long fingers caress her skin. Would he be gentle with her? That was a scenario she hadn't had the pleasure of enjoying. Hopefully she'd get the chance to find out someday soon.

  The sound of snapping wood made her sit up in the tub. Every thought of fantasy jolted from her mind as cold fear gripped her stomach. Her hands slipped as she tried to grab the sides with wet fingers.

  He couldn't be breaking through the wards so quickly!

  Natala stood up in a hurry and reached for a large piece of fluffy fabric she assumed was what Noel had called towels. She wrapped it around her body and padded out into the corridor.

  It was dark, and the artificial air was chilly around her. The beads of water cooled on her arms and legs. Even the wet tips of her hair infused her with an icy cold sensation that no amount of clothes would soothe away.

  She stood in front of the door, water pooling at her feet.

  The bottom part of the wooden door was splintered awkwardly. She was positive that if it hadn't been for the magic, it would've been torn off its hinges by now.

  She extended her right hand out and her magic crystal appeared again. It had taken less effort to summon it this time, she was glad. As her left hand wrapped around the shimmery surface, a kick to the bottom of the door made her take a step back.

  Carabia knew where the weakness was, and would use it to slowly tear away at t
he wards. They were running out of time. A confrontation wasn't that far off, but she wasn't about to give up.

  Natala took a deep breath, snapped up the crystal and fell to her knees. She inscribed each protective symbol along the splinters, and around, sewing the protection with her personal magic to ensure it wouldn't tear.

  When she was done, she stayed on her knees for a long time, just listening to the small scratching sounds Carabia made with his claws.

  "I know you're out there, Natala,” he whispered. “And I'm coming to get you!"

  She got up off the floor and headed back towards the bedroom. Maybe no amount of clothing would be able to soothe away the cold in her bones, but at least she could attempt to cover her skin.

  [Back to Table of Contents]

  Chapter Seven

  "Santa Claus is a modern name that was given to me. I've had many other, older names—Wodan, St. Nicholas amongst them—but I prefer plain ol’ Nick. Just call me Nick, okay?"

  Noel nodded. So this was really Santa Claus? He couldn't believe how average the man looked. Wasn't at all what he expected. Well, he wasn't actually sure what he'd expected, probably the fictional jolly fat man with a sleigh, reindeer and a red sack.

  "Okay, Nick. Maybe you can tell me how Natala managed to get out of the light globe she was trapped inside."

  He nodded slowly, avoiding Noel's eyes. “Earlier, you asked me why I picked you ... and although I made it sound as if it were a random coincidence; it was a little bit more than that."

  "Okay, now you're just confusing me.” Noel frowned. So which one was it? Was he specifically chosen for this, or not?

  "The truth is you weren't part of a great prophecy, where you're the chosen one born to perform this task. But in a way, you are the only one I invited in here and had enough magic inside them to actually see me. Not to mention I believe your loneliness is what released her in the first place,” Nick answered with a shrug. He limped his way around the counter and started to straighten several teddy bears with big red Santa hats on their heads. “That is what happened, isn't it? You wished for companionship as you unwound those lights and viola, there's a cute little imp in your living room."

  "Except she wasn't that little, and nothing like imps are usually made out to look."

  "Ah, what can I tell you? Imps aren't always what they're described to be. Besides, our Natala is special even amongst her own kind. A true blood imp hasn't been found in centuries, not after the demolition of the Wilds.” Nick continued fussing over the bears until the bunch were in a neat, straight line in front of the counter.

  "The Wilds?” Noel echoed, wondering what the hell that was. And after all that he'd heard so far, he wouldn't be surprised if it was somewhere in hell.

  "Haven't you spoken to her about anything yet?"

  "I know a few things, but we didn't get around to any mention of the Wilds,” Noel said with a shake of his head.

  "The Wilds is where the imps lived. Their kingdom was a safe and friendly place filled with power, magic and good will. That is why the demons set their sights on it. For the first time in demonic history, they decided to unite and conquer the poor little guys. The imps were defenseless against them, although many fought to the death. The others were taken as slaves, Natala was amongst them. Her cousins are also trapped within the Christmas lights.” Nick avoided his eyes.

  "She mentioned that..."

  "Of course she would. Imps are very communal creatures. The community of family and friends is what makes them thrive, keeps their magic alive. When they're isolated from their own kind they are prone to loneliness, and will do just about anything for companionship—even bad deeds.” Nick turned to face him, long thin arms at his sides as he stared at Noel.

  "Natala seems fine on her own."

  "I've already told you, she's not like the rest of them. Besides, she's got you. But the need to free her cousins will soon cloud her vision,” Nick said with a frown.

  "Wait a second, what do you mean she's got me?"

  His frown deepened. “Don't think you can shield your emotions or desires from me. I know how much you crave to be with Natala, and she feels the same about you."

  "She does?"

  "Okay, Noel, you're going to have to listen very carefully to me. Every human instinct you have needs to be thwarted at the moment, okay? You need to focus on this very important task at hand because as soon as Christmas Day ticks over on the clock, Decarabia's strength will increase and he will break free from the temporary prison you two managed to push him into.” He paused to take another step closer, and hold a hand up to keep Noel from interrupting. “And when that happens, his only desire will be to take Natala and steal her power, in whatever way possible. So he can defeat me and complete his ambition."

  Noel couldn't stop the fast beat of his heart. So this creature was hell bent on destroying her? Well, he wouldn't stand by and let him. No, he'd do whatever it took to defeat the demon.

  "But what does he want? Surely he didn't get himself trapped with a bunch of imps just because he wanted Natala? She told me she'd served as one of his slaves in hell."

  "Natala and I are just tools. Obstacles in the way of his desired path,” Nick interrupted as he pressed his thin lips together. “What the demon really wants is to infiltrate the human world once a year, at Christmas time. His ambition is to gain willing entry into the homes of every family in this world, so he can have access to their children. And steal power from their innocence."

  "I don't understand. That doesn't make any sense.” Noel's head was spinning.

  "The greatest power in all the realms is innocence. Children are the best source of that power."

  "So he wants to kill children to get stronger? Isn't he already some sort of powerful demon?” Noel was horrified at the thought that anyone would want to hurt children.

  "Power is very much like money—addictive and corruptive. Once you possess a little, you always want more and that's exactly what we're dealing with here.” Nick turned away for a second, his glance surveying the knick-knacks in front of the cash register.

  "I still can't fit Natala into his plan. Or you for that matter.” Noel shook his head, trying to make sense out of this new information.

  The old man sighed and his whole body shook. He answered in a strangled tone that made him sound so very old. “Just under a century ago, Decarabia paid me a visit to this very store. He wandered in with a bunch of glass stones in the palm of his hand. The demon claimed to have a legion of imps that could secure me while he crushed me, and eliminated the only person left in his way. I am after all the magician of Christmas, the man that ensures the safety and happiness of most children. I'm so very sorry that I could never really grace you with much of it."

  Nick turned around and fixed his crystal blue eyes on Noel's. He shivered and felt as if the old man could see right through him—to the very depths of his soul. For a second, the thin man became the jolly fat man, the way Noel and the rest of the world had always known him. Before Nick shimmered back to his thin manifestation, Noel was infused with such a sense of peace and love, his heart nearly burst. To feel this man's magic was to feel the true spirit of Christmas and Noel knew he would never be the same man again. He had to concentrate to listen as Nick continued.

  "What he didn't count on was my counter-defense. When he showed me the imp crystals and tried to unleash them, I turned the tables on him and encased all of them into a string of Christmas lights. It was the only way to keep the imps safe and Decarabia from fulfilling his crazy ambition.” Nick paused to release a raspy breath. “Natala didn't get the chance to be unleashed, but when I held her light inside my hand, I realized she was the key to defeating this demon. It was her power he needed to defeat me."

  Noel didn't know what to say, so he stood very still as he waited for Nick to continue.

  "After that, it was just a matter of waiting for the right time and place. You just happen to be the right man for Natala.” The old man shrugged,
never once removing his gaze from Noel's.

  "You keep mentioning that, but I'm not sure what you're trying to say. Are you telling me that we were meant to be together?” To think of it in that context only added another fuzzy edge to this surreal situation.

  "Yes, son, you've always been unlucky in things. For that price, you have been blessed with two soul mates."

  Tears rose to his eyes as he thought of Nancy's beautiful smile and kind heart. He blinked to clear them away, didn't want to come across as some weak, pathetic fool. There was just something about this man. He made Noel feel like a child again, almost as if the innocence poured off his body.

  "That's not possible..."

  "Not usually, it's not. But for you, that's the case,” Nick said with a small smile. “So when I keep dropping hints, it's because I don't want to come across like a vulgar old man with perverted intentions. I just need you to realize that in order for you and Natala to survive, you'll have to take her ... innocence."

  Noel's mouth fell open. “Are you kidding me?” He laughed nervously, positive he hadn't heard right.

  "I don't need to repeat myself, Noel. You heard me right the first time. For imps to lose their innocence, they need to be intimate with someone that they truly love, and vice versa. Natala's never had that.” He narrowed his eyes, daring Noel to see what he was saying was true. “So before this night is over, you must consummate that attraction that burns between you. Otherwise, every child in the world will be at risk."

  "I can't do that, old man. You're right, this does sound perverted to me. I can't just waltz back into my house and claim that it's for her own good, and the good of the world!” Now the situation made him uncomfortable. This wasn't how he wanted it to be with Natala. He wanted her so badly that an erection was a sure thing if he thought about her too much, but he wanted their union to be a natural thing. Take his time, to ensure they were ready and not just getting carried away with all of this magic.

  "Yes, you can and you must."